The hardline BJP leader said in Gorakhpur that both Shah Rukh Khan and Saeed — the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack — speak the same language.

“There is no difference in the language Shah Rukh Khan and Saeed speak,” said Adityanath, who heads the Gorakhpur mutt in eastern Uttar Pradesh and is known for his radical views on issues related to Hinduism.

Adityanath said if Hindus stopped seeing Shah Rukh Khan’s movies, “he will be on the streets like an ordinary Muslim”.

The MP’s comment came a day after a BJP leader, Kailash Vijayvargiya, called Shah Rukh — as the actor is widely known and who turned 50 on Monday — a “deshdrohi” (traitor).

Vijayvargiya said on Wednesday that his comment had been “misconstrued”.

Shah Rukh Khan had said earlier that there “is intolerance (in India), there is extreme intolerance … there is growing intolerance”.

Adityanath said “so-called writers and artistes” had taken an anti-India stand by returning their national awards over alleged growing intolerance, and that Shah Rukh Khan had now added his voice to this group.

He said while he was all for a free debate on issues, no one had a right to hurt India’s international image.

Those who did deserved to be boycotted, the saffron-robed MP said.

When he was told that Hafiz Saeed had invited Indians to come to Pakistan if they found intolerance in India difficult to cope with, Adityanath said: “They can go (to Pakistan). We also want them to go.”

Adityanath has been representing Gorakhpur in the Lok Sabha for the BJP since 1998. Also head of the Hindu Yuva Vahini group, he has sparked many controversies with his hardline comments.

In June this year, he declared that those who oppose yoga can leave India.